Okay. I finally got a chance to talk to my son's pediatrician. He echoed what a lot of people already said. He said that it depends more on the teacher than how the class is set up. But speaking specifically about ADHD that's true unless it's an "open class" like Montessori. Then it doesn't matter who the teacher is, it would be too distracting.

So after a lot of research and everyone saying very close to the same thing, I think we're probably still good were we are.

We have a new priciple who tends to go her own way regardless of what any committee she's working with may say. She flat told us this is what's happening.

Also, no one knows their classes until 1 week before school starts. I think it's because we have so many people bail out that the school just has to wait and see what happens right before the new year. Last year they split a class 6 weeks into the school year because it took that long to figure it out, apply for and get a grant to pay for the new teacher.

As I write this I think moving sounds really good. My son has ADHD and is really bright but reacts poorly to disorganization.

I see your problem. Since we only have 1 split each first grade class referred 2 kids to the split. The conditions of the referral where more or less gifted and talented guidelines. The teacher is my husband,s age (fairly young) and had never taught a split before. We did have a choice if we weren't comfortable, we were able to find this out a few weeks before school ended, so I talked to the teacher about her ideas on her cirriculum, her ideas and what we should expect. I felt much better after talking to her and I left the ultimate decision up to my son. If he was going to freak out we were going to put him in a regular classroom. Our school has had a policy in the past that you may submit a letter to the principal in order to request a teacher but it must be for academic or emotional purposes. This got to be a problem in some grades so our principal dissallowed that last year. I would talk to your principal and tell her that you need some definate answers. Do you have a school based committee that makes these final decisions? Perhaps you could talk to a member if you do. I would want straight answers if I were you. This could affect your child's emotional well being as well as his/her academic life. I encourage you to keep asking your school administration questions, perhaps go ahead and talk to people at the other school now to check in on their policies and procedures. Good luck with your decision.

I'm not involved in the descision or PR. This is a personal inquiry because we have a choice. I can switch schools very easily. There are 10 schools within a 10 minute drive. One is getting so many of our students, they have to have a lottery because they don't have the room.

That's why we have the staffing problem; so many people want out that we can't support full size classes. It's starting to look like a good idea to leave because the principle is talking out of both sides of her mouth.

It seems like it will depend on what mood she's in that day as to whether or not she'll honor a request. She has said both that we have no choice and that we can change to a non split class if we feel strongly against it.

I'm trying to decide whether or not to switch now since my first is in kindergarten and then we won't have to deal with worrying about. But then again, maybe we won't be faced with the problem. The odds are that 20% of the students every year for the next several years will have to do it.

I hate to move because I just got to know so many people and we bougt our house one block from the school. But I would rather do what's best. That doesn't seem like good odds over 10 more years of kids going through school.

I personally hate to see them split like that but it can work. The school across the county has several kinds of splits, I cannot remember which ones right now, and their test scores are almost as good as ours (just kidding, that is our rival);they do keep their test scores in accordance with KERA guidlines. Think positively about it and since you have no choice find out from your principal and teachers what the best way is of supporting it. Perhaps you could have a special forum at you parent group meeting just to discuss how this will work, make encouraging newsletters to send home to parents so they won't panic. Find other people in your area that has had experiences with split grades before to speak out and that may also make parents feel better.

Every grade but kindergarten will have a split class. That means 20% of the school will be doing it. My husband is very opposed to it. Our principle tried to take a hard line stance on it, saying that you have to do if assigned. Then she quietly said that she had rearranged some students because of objections this year. Our problem is that we are fighting a bad reputation because this school tried so many unsuccessful theories in the past. In Colorado, you may move schools at will. Many people in our area go to other schools.
I'm afraid this will make it worse.